There are a lot of eerie similarities between Kimmie Meissner, Alissa Czisny, and Ashley Wagner.
In 2006-2007, Kimmie won a major senior international (4CC) and nationals, and placed 4th at worlds (with a score of 180.23).
In 2007-2008, she did decently on the GP Circuit, but then went to the GP Final and didn't do well.
In the 2008, nationals, she didn't perform her best, but still was good enough to go to worlds.
At 2008 worlds, she performed poorly.
By the 2008-2009 season, her career was basically over.

In 2010-2011, Alissa won a major senior international (GPF) and nationals, and placed 5th at worlds (with a score of 182.25).
In 2011-2012, she did decently on the GP Circuit, but then went to the GP Final and didn't do well.
In the 2012, nationals, she didn't perform her best, but still was good enough to go to worlds.
At 2012 worlds, she performed poorly.
By the 2012-2013 season, her career was basically over.

In 2011-2012, Ashley won a major senior international (4CC) and nationals, and placed 4th at worlds (with a score of 176.77.).
In 2012-2013, she did decently on the GP Circuit, but then went to the GP Final and didn't do well.
In the 2013, nationals, she didn't perform her best, but still was good enough to go to worlds.
At 2013 worlds, she performed______.

I don't mean to be cynical, but I definitely think it's way more for themselves than for their country. And who could fault them for that? Skating is expensive. Gotta love the sport to continue for years on end as well.

Agree. At the age that elite figure skaters begin the sport (6-8, or even younger), I doubt that they're considering the honor they can bring their country. It's all about sparkly dresses, jumps, and pretty music until they realize that they have more talent than most.

There are a lot of eerie similarities between Kimmie Meissner, Alissa Czisny, and Ashley Wagner.
In 2006-2007, Kimmie won a major senior international (4CC) and nationals, and placed 4th at worlds (with a score of 180.23).
In 2007-2008, she did decently on the GP Circuit, but then went to the GP Final and didn't do well.
In the 2008, nationals, she didn't perform her best, but still was good enough to go to worlds.
At 2008 worlds, she performed poorly.
By the 2008-2009 season, her career was basically over.

In 2010-2011, Alissa won a major senior international (GPF) and nationals, and placed 5th at worlds (with a score of 182.25).
In 2011-2012, she did decently on the GP Circuit, but then went to the GP Final and didn't do well.
In the 2012, nationals, she didn't perform her best, but still was good enough to go to worlds.
At 2012 worlds, she performed poorly.
By the 2012-2013 season, her career was basically over.

In 2011-2012, Ashley won a major senior international (4CC) and nationals, and placed 4th at worlds (with a score of 176.77.).
In 2012-2013, she did decently on the GP Circuit, but then went to the GP Final and didn't do well.
In the 2013, nationals, she didn't perform her best, but still was good enough to go to worlds.
At 2013 worlds, she performed______.

As some would say say, a pattern is a pattern till it's no longer a pattern. I hope Ashley breaks this pattern.

As some would say say, a pattern is a pattern till it's no longer a pattern. I hope Ashley breaks this pattern.

Me too. Fervently. Without Ashley, there's not really a skater left who can carry the American ladies. Gracie's talented and finally beginning to live up to her potential, but she's still so young and liable to crack under pressure. Agnes and Christina, despite their musicality, just don't have the "it" factor required to take command of the show. Mirai's been struggling ever since the Olympics, and the younger girls with potential for stardom--Angela Wang, etc.--haven't had near the amount of experience on the senior international circuit that they need to become real threats.

Hopefully, Ashley takes full advantage of her break from 4CC to rework her programs and add a triple-triple in both the SP and the FS. Without it, some terrific skaters will have to crash and burn for her to have a shot at the podium.

However, it will be tough for Ashley and Gracie to get three sport back.

It will be. Ashley will be lucky to repeat her 4th place finish, and it looks like the two Russian girls can challenge for placements between 4 to 7 after their solid showing at Europeans. Along with Akiko, that's 7 ladies who have a very good shot at finishing ahead of Gracie. 4th (Ashley) + 8th (Gracie) will get the job done, but it's clear there is very little margin for error.

Actually, Gracie's CoR score would have given her a 6th place finish at last year's Worlds, way ahead of Asada and just behind Murakami. Not by any means the same level of scoring at Worlds, I know, but the bottom line is that a clean Gracie (SP and FS) can rack up points in the 180-190 range.

And yes, once AGAIN history is not on Wagner's side heading to Worlds. She got INCREDIBLY lucky at Nationals is all I can say...

I'm gonna be honest here and confess that I'm more worried for Ashley than Gracie headed into Worlds. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be to head into the last major international competition before the Olympics as the national champion of a country that really wants its three spots back. And Ashley's most recent performances weren't exactly of the caliber we saw at SA and TEB. Lucky or not, though, history wasn't on her side at Nationals, either.

Gracie, on the other hand, doesn't have nearly as much pressure on her shoulders. No one's realistically expecting her to pose a medal threat (unless they changed the rules and made it a purely technical competition), so she can get out there and have a good time. Her FS at Nats should have bolstered her confidence some, and as I said before, a clean Gracie is a generously rewarded Gracie.